Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 19
February 8, 1968
NUMBER 39, PAGE 5a

We Fly Away

Jefferson David Tant

As I write these lines, another year has swiftly passed into history, and the passing days bring again to mind the brevity of man's life. Moses, the author of the 90th Psalm, expressed it in these words:

"In the morning they (the children of men) are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth...the days of our years are threescore years and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore years; yet is their pride but labor and sorrow; for it is soon gone, and we fly away...so teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom.

Yes, we fly away, into the presence of God and judgment, for "it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment." (Heb. 9:27) In view of this sobering thought, how infinitely sad to see the wasted years in the lives of so many; years thrown away as a sack of garbage — useless, and gone forever.

"Tomorrow" is often the curse of mankind. How many, many people I know intend to serve God "tomorrow." They are so busy now in getting this or that done, that they have no time for God and His kingdom. Their children grow up and know nothing of God save the fact that there is a God up there somewhere. Do not misunderstand, these are not evil people, nor are they teaching their children to be thieves and murderers. They have every intention of giving themselves in faithful service to God "tomorrow." They realize the great need for their children to be regular in church attendance, and fully intend to see to this matter "tomorrow." But tomorrow has the bad habit of becoming yesterday all too swiftly, and the years pass away, taking with them the golden opportunities and the peace and happiness that could have come from serving the Lord.

"Come now, ye that say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away..." (James 4:13-14)

We are urged to "redeem the time," to take advantage of every opportunity, for "behold now is the acceptable time; behold now is the day of salvation" (II Cor. 6:2), and tomorrow may be the very time "each one of us shall give account of himself to God." (Rom. 14:12)

The words of Laura Newell well express the transitoriness of our journey here below:

As the Life of a flow'r, As a breath or a sigh,

So the years that we live As a dream hasten by;

True, today we are here, But tomorrow may see

Just a grave in the vale, And a mem'ry of me.

As the life of a flow'r, As a breath of a sigh,

So the years glide away, And alas, we must die,

Yes, we must die, and then we shall "fly away." But we are making the reservations now. Today we are determining the final and eternal destination of our journey. Whither goest thou? Whither go thy children?

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